Critical participatory action research is a form of community engagement and knowledge generation which, when represented semiotically, may promote social transformation. In this paper, I describe a critical participatory action research project I undertook as a liberation psychologist and researcher in (post)colonial Jamaica. I summarise a…

The term 'community arts theatre' is used here to describe theatre created and performed by groups of adults in Telford, Shropshire, a new town in the West Midlands of England. The author, who was the co-founder and a theatre worker at Telford Community Arts (TCA), argues that their work is best understood as grassroots artistic reflections of and…

A survey was conducted with 294 community residential facilities serving adults with severe retardation. Compared to nonhandicapped community members, the residents were perceived to have more involvement in only 4 of 38 community activities, including employment or day activities, using health care services, walking/wheelchair strolling, and…

Intended to enhance adult leadership skills, the 4-H Debate Project, developed by the 4-H Communication Committee of Delaware County (Pennsylvania), was designed to (1) increase the members' knowledge of library skills through research, (2) make them aware of current issues, (3) help them to become better public speakers and communicators, (4)…

This report discusses the need to provide people with disabilities with accessible opportunities for community contribution and to provide the individualized supports and assistance necessary to enable their participation. Two strategies are discussed for realizing these objectives: adequate individual funding controlled by people with…

This report on Community Vision, Inc. is part of a series documenting innovative supports for community living for adults with severe disabilities. Community Vision was created as an alternative to facility-based services in Oregon that would intentionally focus on providing inclusive community living for those with the most severe disabilities…

This report on "Options for Individuals" is part of a series documenting innovative supports for community living for adults with severe disabilities. Options for Individuals, which began in 1984 in Kentucky, uses Medicaid waiver funding to support 29 people with severe and often multiple disabilities during the day. While the program is…

Evaluation after two years of Project RAISE, a multifaceted program with seven community sponsors in the large Baltimore (Maryland) school district, indicates the effectiveness of using community adults as advocates and mentors in improving student attendance and some report card grades, but not promotion rates or standardized test scores. (SLD)

The effects on selected student outcomes are evaluated after 2 years of operation of Project RAISE, a multifaceted approach to helping at-risk students featuring outside adults as school-based advocates and one-on-one mentors at seven middle schools in Baltimore (Maryland). Seven community sponsoring groups (churches, universities, businesses, and…

This guide for community-based organizations (CBOs) touches on some of the many opportunities for worthwhile collaboration between CBOs and the schools. It suggests several strategies CBOs can use to (1) increase the access of disadvantaged youth and adults to vocational programs and (2) coordinate their own employment and training efforts with…

Leisure service providers can help enhance the lives of people with mental retardation. By complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, recreation facilities and services can be designed and structured to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities, enhancing their sense of competence and self-determination as…

Describes Green Chimneys School, a New York multi-service residential agency for emotionally disturbed children and their families. Describes how Green Chimneys opens its campus to the community with help from an advisory board. Notes advantages of community involvement and addresses 13 issues that can arise with community involvement. (SB)